Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1127-3811

Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Michelle E. Roley-Roberts

Committee Member

Nicholas Turiano

Committee Member

Elisa Krackow

Abstract

Childhood traumatic event exposure (CTE) involves exposure to extreme events that overwhelm one’s ability to cope. Childhood traumatic event exposure has been linked to a wide range of adverse mental and physical health consequences, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Fewer studies have examined positive trajectories following childhood traumatic event exposure, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG), especially in understudied regions such as Appalachia. The current study used a cross-sectional design to examine posttraumatic growth in 14 youths aged 9 to 15 years seeking trauma-focused therapeutic services at an outpatient pediatric trauma specialty clinic in West Virginia. In line with previous research, we hypothesized that there would be an inverted-U curvilinear relationship between PTSS and posttraumatic growth, with posttraumatic growth most likely at moderate levels of distress. In addition, we hypothesized a significant positive correlation between age and posttraumatic growth and anticipated significantly higher PTSS and posttraumatic growth among females, compared to males. Results did not lend support to any of these hypotheses. Exploratory correlations between age, sex, and posttraumatic growth subdomains (i.e., relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, appreciation of life) were also insignificant. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine posttraumatic growth in Appalachian youth.

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